Every Tuesday, two Enquirer sports writers will talk sports as if you were listening to them around the office. And just like in real life, no one gets to talk for long. The rules of Five Lines or Less are anything is open for discussion - the only rule is it has to be done in five lines or less.

Today’s Combatants

Broderick (left) vs. Buckley (right)

Today’s 5LOL Topics

Tigers in the playoffs

Lions win in the Big Apple

Hoke on hot seat

Sparty gets set for Big Ten

Tigers in playoffs

Bill Broderick: It went down to the final out of the final game, but in the end, the Tigers won their fourth straight division title. Unnecessary drama, or gutsy performance?

Nick Buckley: It’s a good thing when a team comes through in the clutch, which they did in Game No. 162. There are certainly some chinks in the armor, but Tigers deserved AL Central crown.

BB: Tigers get Baltimore in playoffs. Detroit has better starting pitching. Orioles have more consistent offense. Detroit won five of six meetings this year. Does any of it mean anything in October?

NB: It might give Tigers a slight mental edge, but it will most likely depend on who is on the bump for each team. And I like what I’ve seen lately from Detroit’s rotation, which is built for playoffs.

Lions win in Big Apple

BB: Lions have had a tough time winning games like this. Key games for season momentum, on the road, against squads that have less talent than Detroit. Yet, the Lions won. Is this a sign?

NB: Hard to nitpick Lions’ win, but they were playing against a bad QB. It was refreshing that Detroit didn’t find a way to beat itself, which has been calling card. Next up: Jimmy Schwartz and the Bills.

Brady Hoke on hot seat

BB: Is everyone confused on who suffered a concussion? Was it U-M QB, or Hoke? Even after mystifying effort against Minnesota, Hoke said his team can still win a championship. What?

NB: TV commentators took Hoke to task for not pulling Morris when he was dazed. Third-string QB unable to find helmet symbolizes where the program is right now.

BB: First time U-M has had three losses in September. Lost the Little Brown Jug to Gophers for only second time in 24 years. These are historic times in Ann Arbor. Can Hoke recover?

NB: Between Hoke, his staff and AD David Brandon, somebody’s getting a pink slip. But all the speculation of firings only hurts U-M’s chances to recruit well and right its ship. There is no quick fix.

Sparty gets set for Big Ten

BB: Six drives in first half vs. Wyoming - six TDs. MSU has scored school history 50.3 points per game. But now it gets serious. First Big Ten game of the year, under the lights, vs. Nebraska.

NB: If Spartans are serious about the Big Ten (14) crown, they can’t afford a loss to Huskers. Dantonio said only conference champs should be allowed in the four-game playoff. Self-serving or valid?

BB: If they are going to stick with a four-team playoff, teams need to play-in by at least being the best in their conference. Now a 16-team playoff, then SEC, you can get two teams in.

Do You Care?

BB: Ndamukong Suh hints it will be his last year in Detroit and he’d love to play for one of the New York teams. Suh is being paid $22 million this year. Would want more in next contract. On Sunday he was credited with one tackle. Is he worth it? Do you care?

NB: Suh impacts the game even when it doesn’t show in the box score. The thought of him in another jersey chasing Matthew Stafford is a little unsettling. I’d prefer to keep him in the D, even if he has a wandering eye.

BB: As part of the Lions game on FOX, you couldn’t help but know that the historic Family Guy/Simpsons episode was Sunday night. First, did it hit a home run, or was it a seeing-eye single and second, who makes a better athlete - Homer or Peter?

NB: As a kid I always loved cartoon crossovers. As an adult, I still love them. Homer gets the edge based on longevity.

BB: Give me Fred Flintstone (he was Homer and/or Peter when Springfield was still under ice in the ice age) - Fred is a high-handicap bowler and went back to his high school to play for the football team when he went to night school.

Email us at bcesports@battlecreekenquirer.com, let us know what you think — in 5 Lines or Less, of course.